Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light facts for kids
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| The Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light from the southwest | |
 Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light
Location in Minnesota
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| Location | South Breakwater, south pier of the Duluth Ship Canal, Duluth, Minnesota |
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| Coordinates | 46°46′43.4″N 92°5′31.3″W / 46.778722°N 92.092028°W |
| Year first constructed | 1889 |
| Year first lit | 1889 (first tower) 1901 (current tower) |
| Automated | 1976 |
| Foundation | Concrete pier (current) |
| Construction | Steel/cast iron |
| Tower shape | Skeletal tower |
| Markings / pattern | Black with white lantern |
| Height | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Focal height | 68 ft (21 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| USCG number | 7-15860 |
The Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light is a lighthouse located in Duluth, Minnesota. It stands on the south breakwater of the Duluth Ship Canal. This lighthouse works with another light, the Duluth South Breakwater Outer Light. Together, they form a "range light" system. This system helps guide ships safely into the canal from Lake Superior. The lighthouse you see today was built between 1900 and 1901.
Contents
History of the Duluth Inner Light
Building the First Lighthouse
The first lighthouse on the south side of the canal entrance was built in 1874. This was soon after the Duluth Ship Canal was finished. People started asking for a second light on the inner part of the breakwater in 1880. However, money for it wasn't approved until 1889.
Construction of the new lighthouse happened very quickly. It was an open wooden tower shaped like a pyramid. On top, it had a watch room and an iron lantern. Inside the lantern was a special lens called a Fresnel lens. This lens rotated to create a flash every six seconds. The light first shone on September 1, 1889. Just a few weeks later, on September 17, a ship called the India hit the end of the breakwater. Luckily, the damage to the lighthouse was small and was fixed quickly.
The Current Lighthouse Structure
The canal was rebuilt and improved between 1896 and 1900. This meant the old lighthouses had to be changed or replaced. The south breakwater was rebuilt using concrete piers. Once this was done, temporary lights were put up while new permanent ones were built.
A new inner tower was constructed. It stands at the edge of the pier near the lake shore. This lighthouse is a square, three-part metal tower. It has a round staircase inside. When it was first built, it was white with a black lantern and watchroom. Later, its colors were switched. Now, the tower is black, and the lantern is white.
The original Fresnel lens from the first lighthouse was used again in this new tower. However, in 1995, it needed repairs. A newer, modern acrylic flasher replaced it. The old Fresnel lens was then given to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center. There, it was fixed up and is now on display for visitors to see.
Lighthouse Recognition and Sale
The Duluth South Breakwater Inner Lighthouse is important to history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was recognized for its role in trade, engineering, and transportation. This lighthouse was vital for the growth of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes became a very important transportation system in the 1800s and early 1900s.
The lighthouse is still working today, guiding ships. In 2008, the tower was sold at an auction. It was bought by two people who live in Duluth. Before the sale, there was an offer to give the lighthouse to educational or non-profit groups, but no one took the offer.
